The Curse of the Billy Goat?

You have to feel sorry for the long-suffering and loyal fans of the Chicago Cubs. World Series champions in 1908, they never repeated, but expectations were high on this the hundredth anniversary of their triumph. They had the best won-lost record in the National League, but it was not to be. The Dodgers took care of them three games to none in the first round of the playoffs.

The Cubs were formed in 1870 and were charter members of the National League in 1876. They were powerful in the early 20th century with the famous double play combination of Tinkers to Evers to Chance.

We've all heard of the Curse of the Bambino which haunted the Red Sox ever since 1919 when they traded away Babe Ruth. The Sox finally lifted that curse in 2004 with a World Series championship, so Cub fans were looking forward to lifting the less famous Curse of the Billy Goat, which is an amusing story in itelf.

At a World Series game at Wrigley Field in 1945, the owner of the Billy Goat tavern, Billy Sianis, bought two seats, one for himself and one for his billy goat. Because the odour was bothering some patrons, he was asked to leave. Outraged, Sianis placed a curse on the Cubs, saying there would never again be a World Series game at Wrigley. The legend was born.

Harry Caray was an institution at Wrigley. He was the field announcer and for years he led the fans in singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. It was fun to watch. He would lean out of the broadcast booth with a hand-held mike; he couldn't sing for beans but it didn't matter. Harry is spared this year's usual disappointment; he died in 1998.